Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelkupichi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Sunbelkupichi’, characterized by its trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; and pale orange-colored flowers with reddish orange-colored centers and venation.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNBELKUPICHI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Sunbelkupichi’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new uniform Calibrachoa cultivars withattractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination conducted by theInventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2003 of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number B15, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofCalibracha sp. identified as code number 9O10, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Sunbelkupichi was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi,Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunbelkupichi has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunbelkupichi’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sunbelkupichi’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Pale orange-colored flowers with reddish orange-colored        centers and venation.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are taller than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have dark pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more trailing than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Sunbel-Apu, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,385. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plantsof the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbel-Apu differed in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were shorter and had shorter        internodes than plants of the cultivar Sunbel-Apu.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more trailing than plants        of the cultivar Sunbel-Apu.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Sunbel-Apu.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Sunbel-Apu.    -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants        of the cultivar Sunbel-Apu.    -   6. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbel-Apu        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Sunbel-Apu        had yellowish pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunbelkupichi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Sunbelkupichi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the late spring and summer in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants,day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C.Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Sunbelkupichi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number B15, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 9O10, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type. —By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at            20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Trialing plant habit; mounding.            Freely branching with lateral branches potentially forming            at every node; pinching enhances lateral branch development.            Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 10 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 39 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 21.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Outward to trialing.        -   Texture.—Sparsely pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 9 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            Close to 137B; venation, close to 144D. Developing and fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,            close to 144D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from upper leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with            usually about two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers            face upright or outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            initiate and develop flowers about three to four weeks after            planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences            naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously            throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant. Flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 2 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 5.4 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Tube diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.1 cm.            Diameter: About 4.8 mm. Color: Close to 154D; venation,            close to 187A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.3 cm. Petal width: About 1.3 cm. Petal shape:            Spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded with truncate tendencies.            Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when            opening, upper surface: Close to 8D; towards the throat,            close to 53B; venation, close to 182C. Petal, when opening,            lower surface: Close to 8D; midvein, close to 187C; lateral            venation, close to N199B. Petal, fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 27C; towards the throat, close to 53C;            venation, close to 182C; color becoming closer to 61C with            development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to            27C; midvein, close to N167A; lateral venation, close to            N199D. Throat: Close to 7A; venation, N199A. Tube: Close to            1C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 5            mm to 8 mm. Sepal width: About 3.3 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 138A. Color,            immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.            Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per            flower. Stamen length: About 6.5 mm to 10.6 mm. Anther            shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.2 mm by 1.6 mm.            Anther color: Close to 10A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 10B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 9.3 mm. Style color: Close to 145C.            Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close            to 143A. Ovary color: Close to 145B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelkupichi’ asillustrated and described.